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R. J. STUART.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

N0. 327.617. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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No. 327,611. k3 Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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No. 327,617. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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tJNiTnn STATES PATENT ()rricn.

ROBERT J. STUART. OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SEDGJVICKMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,617, dated October6, 1885.

A pplicaiion filed June (3. 1851. Serial No. 35,011.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l. ROBERT J. STUART, residing in the city ofPoughkeepsie, Dntchess county, and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Machine for Feeding Sheet-Paper; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a class of machines devised for the purpose offeeding sheet-paper automatically to any and all kinds ofmachinerywherein sheet-paper is used, as in ruling and calender-ing machines,printingpresses, 850. In fact, it is applicable in every case wheresheet-paper is fed by hand.

The invention consists in combining with the regulating pressurefootlevers having an inclined or angular surface, by means of which thebackward movement of the pawl is deter mined, as will hereinafterappear.

The invention also consists in combining an adjustable rubbing deviceand an adjustable holding device with a pivoted separating plate, whichenables the machine to feed a greater variety of paper, as willhereinafter ap p ear.

The invention also consists in combining with the pivoted bucklingdevices a pivoted se iarating-plate having a horizontally-reciprocatingmovement, as will hereinafter appear.

The invention also consists in combining with the buckling devices apivoted separating-plate having a reciprocating motion, and during theoperation of separation an upward or downward movement, as willhereinafter appear.

The invention also consists in combining with the buckling devices and apaper'supporting table a separating-plate pivoted in vibrating arms, aswill hereinafter appear.

The invention also consists in combining with the buckling devices and atable or support for paper a reciprocating pivoted separating-platehaving thereon one or more frictional surfaces, which no operate withother frictional surfaces to remove a sheet from a pile of paper, aswill hereinafter appear.

The invention further consists in combining (No model.)

Patented in England Apr HQ. 1881, No. 1,458.

an adjustable rubbing device with an adjustable holding device, bot-hworking upon the surface of a paper sheet to lift the edge and separateit from a pile of paper upon the-table,

and the supporting-table, as will hereinafter appear.

The invention also consists in combining an adjustable pivotedreciprocating separatingplate, an adjustable reciprocating arm withfrictional rubbing surface, an adjustable roll or holding device with atable or support for paper, and mechanism for moving said tableautomatically, as will hereinafter appear.

The invention further consists in a separating mechanism having aseparating plate or bar and one or more rings or frictional surfaceswhich may be interposed beneath a sheet of a pile of paper andcooperating with africtional surface upon the other side thereof, bywhich the said sheet is separated and removed, as will hereinafterappear.

The invention also consists in the combination of a pivoted arm or toewith a movable.

plate or bar having a projection or inclined lug upon one side thereof,a spring or its equivalent, and a rod connecting with the belt orclutch-shifter, and placed in relation to each other and a part of theoperating mechanism of the machine in such a manner that by the failureto interpose a sheet of paper between the pivoted arm or toe and theoperative mechanism with which it may come in contact the machine isstopped, as will hereinafter appear.

Similar letters represent similar parts in all the views.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a view in elevation of the rear part of themachine. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a view in elevation of the left-hand sideof the machine, showing the cam which operates the vertical screws usedin moving the feed-table. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a view in section, as seenfrom the left-hand side of the machine, with the left-hand frame removedto show more plainly the cams that actuate the various levers and otheroperating mechanism. Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is another view in section withleft-hand frame removed, showing the vertical screws which move thefeed'table, the guide-plates, and friction-rolls, the feedtable withpaper and paperguards, thebuckling device, and the cams which actuatethe buckling device and separating-plate. Fig. 5,'Sheet 5, is a plan ortop view of the machine, showing both sides of the frame, the feed-tablewith guards to hold the paper in place, the screws by which the table ismoved, the ratchet-wheel and pawl for turning said screws, and thebuckling devices, the taperolls with tapes, the regulating-roll uponmovable arms which admit of its being raised from the paper or pressedthereupon when required, the registering plate or guide, and the drivingand main shafts. Fig. 6, Sheet 6, represents a view of the rubbing andbuckling device detached and enlarged to show more plainly thecombination of the rubber and the roll each upon separate" arms, whichin turn are pivoted to another pivoted arm having slots to admit oftheir adjustment, by which means the buckling device is made to pressupon the paper with an unvarying pressure. The means of increasing ordecreasing the pressure upon the rubbing-pad is also shown, also the rodor slide by which the buckling device is raised to permit a sheet to bewithdrawn, and the relative positions of the different parts while thebuckling device is buckling or arching a sheet of paper before theseparating-plate is entirely withdrawn from its advanced position. Fig.7, Sheet 7, represents the arrangement of levers in combination with alink, ratchet, screw, weighted pawl, the regulating pressure arm, whichbears upon the surface of the paper and determines the distance which itshall be moved, the cams which actuate said levers, and the pin or stophaving aninclined and the machine stopped whenever it fails to feed.Fig. 9, Sheet 6, shows the buckling de vice in the act of buckling orarching a sheet of paper preparatory to its removal, while theseparating-plate is receding from its advanced position,having justdischarged a sheet of paper, the bent arm by which the said blade orplate is held in a raised position, and the lever which, actuated by acam, applies the pressure thereto, as will hereinafter appear.

A is the frame of the machine. B. is the feed-table or support for thepaper, having a pile of sheets thereon, and is secured to nuts 0, whichhave extended arms a moving upon friction-rollers 0 1n recesses orgrooves formed in or. on the frame, Figs. 1 and 4, and said nuts areactuated by the screws D, which aredriven simultaneously by theconnecting-shafts D and the bevel-gears D.

E is the drivin g-shaft, upon which are placed the friction-wheels F, bywhich the sheet f paper is impelledforward when the smallerfriction-rolls (1 Figs. 3 and 4, are mad t press the sheet of paperagainst them.

G, Fig. 2, is the main shaft, on which are placed the several cams thatactuate the various arms or levers.

H is a sprocket-wheel on the shaft G, to which power is communicated bymeans of a chain,e,from a smaller sprocket-wheel, [,upon thedriving-shaft E shown in Fig. 5.

J and J are tape-rolls, with grooves cut in each, the relative positionof which is such as to carry the paper upon the tapes or cords passingfrom the feeder in a line diverging from a right line against theadjustable registering-guide K, which is fastened to thetapetable L by abolt, a, Fig. 5, Sheet 5, which permits its position to be changed atwill, the

"table being slotted at right angles with its length. The taperolls arerevolved by means of a belt, 2, Figs. 2 and 5, passing around the roll Jand grooved pulley 90 upon the main shaft G.

M, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, is a movable regulating-roll, having its hearingsin one end of the arms N,the other end ofsaid arms being pinned to anindependent shaft, 0, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted bymeans of the cam a Fig. 3, coming in contact with a cane roll on the endof a curved lever, Z1, which is also pinned to the shaft 0, as shown atFig. 2, Sheet 2, and Fig. 3, Sheet 8. This roll is raised to permit thepaperto pass without opposition over the tape-rolls J, and is thenbrought to bear against the surface of the paper, thereby regulating itsforward motion, and imparting to it the same speed as the tapes,affording a better'opportunity for perfect registration.

P indicates guides to steady and direct the paper when fed from the pileor table to the tapes.

a", Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, is an arm to which the pressure-roll b isattached, and is used as aholding device during the operation ofbuckling. It is attached to the pivoted arm or lever S by the bolt orpivot d, the roll b being held upon the surface of the paper by itsweight.

a is the arm which holds the rubbing-pad b and this, with the holdingdevice consist ing of the arm a and roll N, forms the buckling device.It is also attached to the pivoted arm or leier S by the bolt or pivotd". Upon its upper side is secured a spring, f, which extends from theend on which the rubbing-padb is held toward the other end of the armand past the bolt (1. Increased pressure of the pad 1) upon the paper isobtained by means of the thumbscrew c and a reduced pressure by the useof 0, both of whichare inserted in the arm a, and against the bot tom ofwhich the spring is permitted to press, as the case may require.

The lever S is pivoted to the frame A at 1), Figs. 2, 3, and 4, by thestud y. Reciprocating motion is imparted through the cam-roll f 2 by thedouble-acting cam h and spring h. The other end of the lever Sisslotted, as at f, to admit of a variation of the distance between theroll b and rubbing-pad b. \Vith thick paper the distance should beincreased, and per contra with very thin paper. W'ith heavy paper it isalso necessary to apply increased pressure upon I)" by the thumbscrew e,and with very light paper to diminish it by the thumb-screw e to insurethe separation of but one sheet. By pivoting the arms S, a, and a I amenabled to apply an unvarying pressure upon the surface of the paper.

Upon the inner side of the arm a is a lug or projectiomf (see Sheet 5,Fig. 5,) which extends under the arm (0, against which the rod or bar2', Figs. 4 and 6, strikes when it becomes necessary to raise thebuckling device i'rom the pile of paper to remove the sheet. The rod orbar z" is pivoted atj to an arm, R, working upon the shaft 1). It isslotted at i to permit its moving up and down, and is held in place by astud screwed into the frame through the slot i. It is actuated by theram 1) through the cain-roll 12 Fig. 3.

T is a horizontally-reciprocating separatingplate pivoted at d, Figs. 3,4, and 5, to the two arms R which are pinned to the shaft 19, and itobtains a horizontal reciprocating motion by means of the arm R and cam1-. It has also an upward and downward movement, which is obtained bythe lever 0 being actuated by the cam r on the main shaft G, Fig. 4, andstriking or coming in contact with the lever 0 of the separatingplate.The object of thisvertical motion is to enable the buckling device tofold or buckle the paper while the separating-blade is receding from itsadvanced position without pressing upon the fold of the paper andretarding the operation. It is also raised, when being advanced, toprevent the point of the blade from penetrating or disturbing theremaining sheets.

On'the shaft (Z are small rolls or frictional rings, which are broughtin contact with the other side of the sheet of paper about being removedfrom the pile by the forward movement of the vibrating arms R, andpressing it firmly against the larger rolls F, which are constantly inmotion. Motion being in this way communicated to them, they aid indelivering the sheet to the tapes.

At t is shown a slot or opening in the separating plate T, into whichthe pivoted toe m, attached to the sliding bar a of the stop-motion,falls when no paper is interposed between the toe and said plate toprevent it. The bar a is slotted at u, and on its upper side has aninclined or wedge-shaped projection, Fig. 3, Sheet 3. Upon being forcedbackward by the toe an engaging with the separating plate T the bar m inthe slotted piece a is raised by the inclined surface of n, anddisengaged from the shoulder r, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, which previouslysecured it, and by the pressure of the spring a it is forced outward,

throwing the lever m, Fig. 8, Sheet 7, far enough to disconnect thesections V and Vof the clutch, and thus stop the machine. The

slotted bar a, Fig. 3, when not forced from its position, is held inplace by a spring, 10.

0 is an adjustable rod, upon which are placed the adjustablepaper-guards c and can be lengthened or shortened at will by looseningthe thumb-screw 9, Fig. 7, Sheet 7.

O is a disk, upon the under side of which is formed a ratchet, and iskeyed to the upper end of one of the screws D, through which power iscommunicated to operate the feedtable.

S is a pawl,weighted at one end to keep the other continually engagedwith the ratchet, and is pivoted by a stud upon the upper end of arigl'it-angled lever, S, Fig. 7.

S is a right-angled lever, secured to the side of the frame A by thestud XV, upon which it oscillates, having at its lower end a cam-roll,K. It is actuated by the cam 0. Upon one side it has a projection, lug,or arm, one side of which is formed at an angle with a right linerunning vertically through the center of the stud upon which it ispivoted, as at x.

S" is another right-angled arm, secured to a shaft, 2, which extendsentirely through the machine. At the end of the short arm it has acam-roll, 0, through which motion is communicated by the cam 0". At itsother end is pivoted a link, t, which is also pivoted at If to thehorizontal bar V, Figs. 1 and 7, which extends through both sides of theframe. The other end of the bar U is pivoted to a link, it, andconnection is made with the shaft 2 by means of a lever correspondingwith the lever S without its short arm.

Y, Figs. 1 and 7, is a compensating or regulating lifting arm or feet,which is attached to the crossbar U by a screw near each side, one ofwhich screws serves as a pivot. The other passes through a slot andpermits the arm or foot to adjust itself to the unevenness of thesurface of the paper. y, Figs. 2 and 7, is a pin in the lever S, whichserves as a stop to determine the back ward motion of the lever S theposition of which is determined by the position of the feed-table orpile of paper as the paper is taken from the surface of the pile. Thearm or foot adjusts itself to the remaim ing paper, consequently theposit-ion of the long arm of the lever S is also regulated,permittingthat part of the lever S below the pro jcction or lug a; to operate onthe pin 1, and in consequence the pawl S engages a greater or lessnumber of teeth in the ratchet of the disk 0 as the oscillation of thearm S is increased or diminished.

Z Z, Fig. 1, are plates, against which the front edge of the pile ofpaper is placed. A graduated scale, Q, is placed by the side of thefeed-table or support for paper as a matter of convenience in adjustingthe machine when a known quantity of paper is to be placed upon the feedtable.

Having described the various pieces and parts of the machine, itsoperation is as follows: The pawl S is lowered,and the disk 0' isrevolved in the direction of the slant of the teeth of the ratchet.Motion is thus imparted to the screws D,which engage with the nuts 0 andlower the table B attached thereto. The pile of paper is then placedupon said table, the front edge pressed against the guides, the rightside of the paper being placed against other guides, to one of which thescale Q is attached, (shown in Fig. 1,) and by having straight edgesupon two sides of the feed-table the paper can always be fed withaccuracy. The disk is now revolved in the opposite direction until thetop sheet of the pile of paper is even with the top-mark of the scale Qor the bottom of the compensating jor regulating arm or foot Y. Theguards c are then shoved down behind the paper to prevent its beingforced out of place by the action of the rubbing or buckling device.Should it become necessary on account of the width of the paper, the rodo Figs. 4 and 5, to which ithe :guards c are secured,may be pushed in orout to conform to the size of the paper, the rod c passing through asupport, a, to which it is fastened when required by a thumb-screw.Power now being applied to the wheel of the drivingshaft IE, it iscommunicated to the main shaft G, upon which are placed the cams thatactuate the various parts by the sprocket-wheels and chain. The rubbingor buckling device presses upon the surface of the paper, and with areciprocating movement, which is preferably repeated two or more timesto insure the separation of the sheet, rubs the sheet backward from theedge. of the pile and permits the blade T to press upon the remainingsheets or pile. Upon the receding of the buck ing device that part ofthe sheet which was arched by the rubber or frictional surface is drawntoward the edge of the pile, and not being permitted to occupy itsformer position on account of the presence of the separating-blade T itis forced upon the surface of said blade, which, by the operatingmechanism, is now introduced further beneath the said sheet, the pointhaving an upward movement as it advances to prevent penetrating theremaining paper in case there should be any unevenness of its surface,the reciprocating arms of the buckling device being raised by the upwardmovement of the rod 1', and the regulating arm or foot Y being raised bylevers S and cam Z, Figs. 2 and 3. The separating-blade and the smallrolls d continue to advance under the sheet until the rolls (I? approachsufficiently near to the large fricti onal rolls F,upon the shaft E,topress the sheet againstthem. Theybeingconstantlyin motion, cooperatewith the smaller rolls to remove the sheet from the pileand deliver iton the tapes. The regulating arm or foot Y is now lowered upon thepaper, and the separating blade or plate recedes with its point elevatedto clear the next sheet, which is now being buckled or arched by therubbing device, and is again pressed upon the pile of paper after a partof the sheet is removed from the edge of the pile, when the movementsabove described are repeated. The sheet previously removed is carried bythe endless tapes on the rolls J J diagonally toward and against theside of the registering board or guide K, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, to itsrequired destination. As the sheets are removed from the pile theregulating-roll M, which was previously raised to admit of the freepassage of the paper, is lowered and impinges upon the paper, receivingits motion from contact with the tapes or the roll J. By this means theforward motion of the paper is regulated, and it is carried from thefeeder at the same speed given to the tapes, which aids in obtaining amore perfect register of the paper.

The roll can be made to press upon the moving paper at any time byadjusting cam a which actuates it upon the main shaft G, it beingsecured thereto by a set-screw.

As the separated sheet is being removed from the pile the foot Y,whichhas been raised to allow the sheet to be drawn from beneath it,is nowallowedto drop until it rests on top of the pile. If the top of the pilebe higher than it should beas, for instance, in starting, if the tableshould be raised a little too high-the foot will not drop so low,andwould also keep the projection Y of the lever S from dropping, and asthe backward movement of lever S (to one end of which is secured thepawl S) is determined by the said projection coming in contact with itat x, and this determines the number of teeth the pawl shall engage indisk 0, so that in feeding paper of different thicknesses, the foot willdrop a distance corresponding to the thickness of the paper removed, andthe number of teeth the pawl shall engage in the disk shall bedetermined accordingly, and consequently by turning the screw D thefeed-table is automatically raised to the proper position as the paperis fed off without regard to thickness.

It is is evident that a ratchet-clamp may be used with a smooth-grooveddisk without teeth in lieu of the tooth-ratchet shown in the drawingswith the same result. a In case of afailure or ommisson to pass a sheetof paper from the file or feed table the separating-plate T, movingforward, permits the pivoted point of the toe m to drop into or engagewith said plate or blade T, Figs. 3 and 5, and being forced backwardpushes the slotted bar a, and, by means of its upper wedgedshapedsurface, raises the cross-bar m above its shou1der,when, by the pressureof a spring, w, it is forced outward, throwing the pivoted lever m in aposition to disengage the sections V and Vof the clutch shown at Fig. 8,and stops the op eration of the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a paper-feeding machine, in combinati on with the regulatingpressure-foot Y,levers S and S each having an inclined surface by meansof which the backward movement of the pawl S is determined,substantiallyas-described.

2. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of an adjustable rubbingdevice and IIO an adjustable holding device with a pivotedseparating-plate, substantially as described.

3. 111 a paper-feeding machine, in combining with the pivoted bucklingdevices a pivoted separating plate, having a reciprocating movement,substantially as described.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, in combining with the buckling devices apivoted separating-plate having a reciprocating motion, and during theoperation of separation an upward and downward movement, substantiallyas described.

5. In a paper-feeding machine, in combination with buckling devices anda paper-supporting table, a separating-plate pivoted in vibrating arms,substantially as described.

6. In a paper-feeding machine, in combining with the buckling devicesand a table or support for paper, a pivoted reciprocatingseparating-plate having one or more frictional surfaces which eo-operatewith other rotary frictional surfaces to remove a sheet from a pile ofpaper, substantially as described.

7. In a paper-feeding machine,-the combination of an adjustable rubbingdevice with a pivoted holding device, both working upon the surface of apaper sheet to lift the edge and separate it from a pile of paper, andthe supporting-table, substantially as described.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a pivotedreciprocating separatingplate, an adjustablereciprocating arm withfrictional rubbing surface, an adjustable roll or holding device with atable or support for paper, and mechanism, substantially as described,for moving said table automatically.

9. In a paper-feeding machine, in combination with a buckling device andpaper-supporting table, asepa-rating-plate with one or more frictionalsurfaces which are introduced beneath a sheet of a pile of paper, andco-operate with a frictional surface upon the other side thereof in theremoval of the sheet, substantially as described.

10. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of aseparating-plate andapivoted arm or toe with the belt or clutch shifter, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. STUART. [L. s.]

lVitnesses:

ALONZO SEDGWIGK, EDWIN N. BROWN.

